Method and system for simulation of an mr image

Abstract

In a method and system for simulating a magnetic resonance image of an examination subject, imaging parameters are determined that correspond to an imaging sequence that will be used to generate a magnetic resonance image of an examination subject, this being the magnetic resonance image that is to be simulated. At least one item of anatomical information of the subject is determined, and signal-to-noise information of the MR system, with which the magnetic resonance image of the subject will be generated, also is determined. The magnetic resonance image is simulated in a processor in real time dependent on the determined imaging parameters, the determined anatomical information, and the determined signal-to-noise information. The simulated magnetic resonance image is then visually displayed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention concerns a method for simulation of an MR image of an examination subject, and a system for implementing such a method.[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]Multiple tissue properties that have an influence on the image contrast and the image quality come into effect in magnetic resonance tomography (MR tomography). The image appearance is pathology-specific, and normally multiple images are generated at different contrasts in order to be able to make a differential diagnosis.[0005]Furthermore, for specific questions it is known to propose protocol workflows that contain imaging sequences with suggested imaging parameters that can be used for specific questions. It is left to the user of the MR system to select from among the number of proposed imaging sequences and to modify the imaging parameters. Each parameter variation requires a measurement for verification, and this process is not alway...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]An object of the present invention is to provide a procedure and system with which parameter variations can be checked quickly and simply.

[0007]According to a first aspect of the invention, in a method for simulation of an MR image of an examination subject, a measurement protocol is established that designated the coils that are used, the imaging sequence and the relevant imaging parameters associated with these that are used to generate the MR image that should be simulated. Furthermore, anatomical information of the examination subject is determined, meaning that the anatomical region to be examined is established. Signal-to-noise information of the MR system with which the MR image that is simulated should be generated is likewise determined. With the determined information (i.e. with the imaging parameters, the specific anatomical information and the signal-to-noise information of the MR system), the MR image is essentially simulated in real time and the simulated image is subsequently presented. Simulation in real time means that the simulated MR image is provided for the operator to view after determination of the individual factors. This time span should be less than 5 seconds, advantageously less than 3 seconds, more advantageously less than 1 second. Given changes of protocol parameters, an MR image that is displayed to the operator can be calculated depending on a sequence-specific, anatomy-specific and system-specific simulation calculation with the system-dependent signal-to-noise ratios. With the simulated MR image, the operator can decide before the actual measurement whether the time cost for the measurement is justified or not, or whether the measurement will probably not contain the information that is desired by the operator. Only if the simulated image exhibits a promising contrast can the operator actually conduct the measurement on the examination subject. Unnecessarily long measurements for testing purposes thus can be avoided.

[0011]For better correlation of the automatically suggested simulated image plane and the image plane selected by the examination person, the previously used MR exposures (for example overview exposures) could be used, wherein these are compared with the predetermined data set in order to select the image plane for the position of the MR image to be simulated using the comparison.

Problems solved by technology

Each parameter variation requires a measurement for verification, and this process is not always productive since the histories determining the result are often physically very complex, and the results of the optimization attempt often do not correspond to expectations.

Images